What is Itadakimasu meaning?

Dolores Miles
2 min readDec 5, 2022

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Itadakimasu Meaning
Photo by Sorasak on Unsplash

Although the phrase “Itadakimasu” has been regarded as one of Japan’s most distinctive traditions since antiquity, there is a hypothesis that it spread over the whole nation following the Showa period. Itadakimasu is a greeting used before eating because the person will accept something that has been presented.

Itadakimasu thus does not signify “thank you,” If the situation calls for it, it can even be used by someone stealing. Itadaku, which initially meant “to elevate anything over your head,” indicated accepting something gratefully when Buddhism flourished throughout the Asuka era. Gifts of great value or graciously accepted objects would be hoisted at that moment.

Itadakimasu truly means “I humbly receive,” as it is the polite and modest form of the verb “to receive.” However, it is most frequently used before a meal to signal, “Let’s eat.” Itadakimasu is a fundamental piece of Japanese eating etiquette that has been a part of the country’s dining culture since ancient times. So, do you still recall that Itadakimasu Meaning “I humbly receive” when translated literally?

In reality, it’s not just for food; there are other uses. This is consistent with Buddhism’s idea of reincarnation into either plants, animals, or humans depending on the karma accrued within every life, as well as the indigenous Japanese idea that almost all things have a spirit.

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Dolores Miles

Dolores Miles is a 26-year-old NAATI Certified Translator. She grew up in Sydney Australia. She had a brief career working in Translation Companies.